I have read all the Harry Potter books with enthusiasm. And now enjoyed the movies. Am I the only adult that likes them??

And what about the controversy about the book being evil? It seems to me that Harry is brave about going against what is evil. Have the books really been banned from schools? I would think to encourage kids to read would be good.

I LOVED them and good does outweigh the evil; those that oppose them should take a good look at some of the old fairy tales. This is a wonderful series about young people that overcome adversities and see their potential. I am off to the movie this week YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Personally, I think the Good vs. Evil thing is a political ploy used by people to gain leverage in debates having nothing to do with the book.

The Harry Potter books, while nicely done and thoughtfully plotted, owe a huge debt of gratitute to several other important literary works, from which plot elements, characterizations, or even scenes are borrowed.

That being said, both my wife and I enjoy the books and the films.

If you enjoyed the Potter books (as I also did), try "The Chronicles of Narnia" (seven volumes), by C. S. Lewis, written as an extended Christian allegory for young readers. It has Good vs. Evil, wizards, witches, talking animals, a unicorn, and children adventuring in a mythical kingdom.

Narnia is written to a much higher literary standard than Potter, by a true scholar / artist and reflective theologian. By the way, there was similar noise about the Narnia series being Evil when it was first released nearly a century ago..., naturally by those not bothering to open the covers of the book.

Then there is "The Once and Future King," by T. H. White. This is a spectacularly prismatic retelling of the Arthurian saga. Merlin, the wizard, gets younger and more innocent every day, even as he battles Evil. The chapter on young Arthur learning the meaning and importance of ethics and virtue by learning falconry is breathtaking. There are knights, castles, conflicts of morality and the heart, poliotocal crisis, the testing of faith. And the knights take off on a quest for the grail.

Naturally, some folks not bothering to open the covers of T. H. White's masterwork or aquaint themselves with history scream that the book is all about Evil. Yet, they forget that the GRAIL the knights seek is the cloak Christ wore at crucifixion, and so the book is all about the power of faith and the search for God.

Oh, by the way, Disney made a really bad cartoon version of "The Once and Future King." Miss it is you possibly can.

I read all the Harry Potter books and absolutely loved them, even have the first movie on DVD. I think the books would be excellent for young adult readers. I think those that think the books are evil have not even read them. I believe that they tell kids that anybody can be somebody special and that good does triumph over evil. Can't wait to see the second movie!!!
Kathy

Adam, I really enjoyed "The Chronicles of Narnia". Also there was a PBS series which followed the books closely, some time ago. They used to re-introduce them on fund-raising drives, but I think they have been shown quite a few times.

My DH and I love Harry Potter...the whole controversy is that since he is a wizard he is trying to seduce young children into devil-worshipping.

I actually have a very religious friend who will not allow his son to see any of the movies or read the books. It's pretty sad.

I've read the C.S. Lewis Narnia series as well as many of his other work. All excellently written. Haven't read T.H. White yet.

What I want to know...is why can't a book just be a book? Why does it have to be anything other than a story to fascinate and entertain? When I read the Narnia series, I read it to amuse myself not as a Christian allegory. I used to read the entire series every year as a child. It's a series I would recommend to anyone, regardless of their religion.

I totally agree with you, that a book is just a book. And I would be ever so grateful if others approached reading in the way you describe.

However, sometimes it assists us in understanding the artist's work to examine his or her intentions. What is it the author would like us to understand from the story they labor to tell?

In the case of Lewis, looking at the body of work ~~~ and much of it is exquisitly crafted language to be sure ~~~ we know he wrote to us through the lens of a devoutly and passionatly felt Christianity.

And whether the reader does or does not subscribe to the theology Lewis so gorgeously describes, it is my..., er..., prayer, that anyone picking up one of his many wonderous volumes is transported and enobled by the beauty of the work.

My principal reason for even mentioning that Narnia is a Christian allegory, is to point out that sometimes hysterics object to things of which they are fully ingnorant, thereby reinforcing their ignorance.

My son will be 13 this January and he's read all 4 books and can't wait for the next one to come out. I took him and my 10 year old daughter to the movies both times when the 1st one and the 2nd one were released and can't wait for the next one to come out at the theater. When talking to my mom about a week or so ago she said that she can't wait to see the 2nd movie when it comes out on tape. I told her that she will probably have to wait a while longer and she was kind of disappointed. So I guess you can add my mom and I to the list of adults who like Harry Potter :o)

I am a reader, and will read almost anything, even the cereal box at breakfast. However, I am not a fan of fantasy... Until Harry Potter. Just had to see what all the fuss was about, and borrowed the first book, which I never put down until it was finished. Then spent the weekend reading 2,3 and 4. Found the movie fairly true to the book, more so than usual... Stephen King books translate badly, in my opinion.

Adam, I always thought the Holy Grail was the Chalice used at the Last Supper. The Cloak idea is new to me. Can you fill me in a little on that? Does the Object vary at all from time to time?

John... How funny to see someone else use the same words I use to describe how I read (even breakfast cereal boxes)! Like you, I also thought the Grail was the cup from the last supper.

Despite being a Baptist, I find no quarrel with the wizardry in the Harry Potter books. I believe everyone could use a good imagination, and think it's essential in children if they are ever to learn to think outside the box.

my boys arent in to harry because they have choose not to be they aernt into sponge bob either!
kegan is into the Michigan chillers ever since he met the author and got his book signed!
They love yugioh too-thats the new craze around here!
They love the lord of the rings!!! =] me too!

Hurrah! I've been waiting for the paperback... I'm generally too cheap to buy books in hardcover, plus I find paperbacks easier to hold for reading. Tir, the hardcover version of this one came out last summer. Just think, you could've read it a year ago!

We rented "HP & the Goblet of Fire" on DVD recently, and I have to say that I thought the movie was actually better than the book... I thought this one was the weakest story in the series, being more a description of the various "challenges" and less about plots twists or character development.

Oh my I should have paid closer attention to the advertisement, you are correct...it HAS been out, it's just announcing the arrival of the paperback! Here I've got the hardcover already sitting on my bookshelf. *shaking head and laughing*

Tir-Na-Nog. You sound like you have the same kind of memory for books and movies as me and my sister. Somebody had to convince me the other day that, yes, they HAD lent me this movie, and I had already seen it. "Well", I asked them, "did I enjoy it?"

So I guess you can go back and re-read "Half-Blood Prince" like it was the first time!

Oh my gosh, nice to meet a kindred!!!! I am TOTALLY like that. My DH recalls details from the books different from the movies and I'll say, "That didn't happen in the book?!" He'll say, "Yeah, yeah it did." I didn't remember the staircases moving in the books as they did in the movies.

I can watch a movie and 1-2 years later, if only seen once, re-watch it like brand new! I have Princess Bride almost memorized though. =)

I love the Harry Potter books and films and can't wait for the final book next year. I'll be sad though as there will be no more after that. I think they are so entertaining for children and adults alike, JKR always puts in plenty of jokes for the adults. I think the films have been excellent too and have tried to do justice to the books. So is Snape a baddie or not? Is Dumbledore still alive? Who will get killed off? There's some wild speculation going on!

Sorry for the long post, I just found this thread and I had a lot to say.

I love the books! I was resistant to them for quite a while for no reason I can understand. I read a lot and am always looking for cool new series. I also have nothing against children's books. I read children's books even before I started pre-reading juvenile and young adult books that I think my future step-daughter might enjoy, to see if they are too adult for her. She really enjoyed The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black. That's the only one I've found that I thought she would like, was age appropriate (in my opinion), and that I could get her to listen to, but I keep trying. I didn't end up reading the Harry Potter books until I picked up a copy of the first three UK editions in London as a present for a friend of mine who is fanatical about Harry Potter. I ended up needing something to read on the ferry to France, I had those, so I started to read the first one and was hooked. My friend never did end up getting those copies.

I thought the movies were pretty good. I had watched the first two before I read the books. I actually have been to opening day on all three kind of randomly. I went to the first one because something else was sold out, the second one because it was my friends birthday and thatís what she wanted to do, and the third because I couldnít wait to see it, for better or worse. Because I saw the first two movies before reading the books, I donít have one of the issues I generally have when they make books into movie, which is the characters not looking right to me. When I read the books I see the actors. I actually have the scene where Harryís father is tormenting Snape when they were children in my head as if I had already seen it in a movie. I actually thought I had seen it in one of the movies for awhile. I do think they are really good movies, but, I still think the changes they made to make them in to movies lose part of the soul of the book.

Aotearoa - The Once and Future King by T. H. White is my mother's favorite book. I really think it should be more popular than it is. No one seems to know it anymore. My favorite part is when he's an ant. It reminds me of 1984 by George Orwell.

critterologist - Finally! Someone else agrees that especially large hardcovers are too hard to read. I still haven't read Quicksilver by Neil Stephenson all the way through, even though I really want to and enjoyed the part I have read, because I can't find a paperback copy, and it's just too big and heavy for me to read in hardcover.

Tir_Na_Nog - I used to be able to recite the Princess Bride. That's what happens when you're an insomniac and use a movie to go to sleep too many times.

I know I've mentioned Patricia C. Wrede's books elsewhere recently, but check into her for your stepdaughter, Zhinu. Her "Dragon" books are among my favorites for reading aloud -- but do start with _Talking to Dragons_, even though it's not "chronicalogically" the first book. (Think of how you should read _The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe_ first in CS Lewis' Narnia series, even though there is another book, _The Magician's Nephew_, about Narnia's beginnings.)

Did you see where Radcliffe is in London's West End's production of Equus? It's a very demanding role...haven't seen the play since I was in my early teens and the movie since my early 20's. Lets hope he can pull it off well.

Full nudity in entertainment usually does create a stir. I had no idea plays could be rated R same as movies! It's all in how you see it though araness. I personally don't want to see anyone's nude body in a play, movie or TV.

Guess it is personal, and yes Danial Radcliffe who was in Harry Potter. As far as nudity and this play is concerned really don't see how it could be done without it. Been years as I said since I saw the play (was 15 or 16 at the time) and was in my early 20's when I saw the movie but the play made a major impact. It was very well done and I'm trying to recall if if it was full frontal or not, it wasn't something that stood out so can't recall.

OHHHH "Daniel Radcliffe" of course! I just needed the 2 names put together. =) Wow. I am disappointed in him now. I'll try not to let it influence my enjoyment of the Potter series. To bad people think they must (or perhaps they do) need to go to such extremes to separate themselves from previous characters.

Why would you think badly of him? It's a stunning play! It won a Tony in 75 and justly so...it's a brillant piece of work. Have you seen it or the movie? Although I didn't warm to the movie as much (not as much a Richard Burton fan)

Like I said, not interested in any play, movie or TV show with full nudity. There are many of them and they win awards because their fans love them and that's fine with me, love it...it's just not what I'm watching. A "GREAT" movie that throws in nudity is a movie I won't be able to see. Doesn't mean it wasn't great. Just means there are some who won't be watching it.

I do not cast judgement upon those who want to see things like that. I don't think Daniel Radcliffe is terrible. I am just disappointed people think they have to use things like that to get noticed.

I don't think he did it to get noticed--everyone already knows who he is. :) I just think he wanted people to see he had a great range and, like others said, it's supposed to be a great play (although I've never seen it). So many child actors have a hard time finding work in adulthood, I wish him well.

Yes, back to topic--I love Harry Potter too and it's driving me crazy waiting for this book. But I'm an adult for heaven's sake and I'm not supposed to care about a children's book. ;)

Equus was first performed in 1973 - are we really still so shockable?! The naked body is the most natural thing in the world. I've seen many plays involving nudity. Big deal. I admire Dan Radcliffe for taking this role.

I hope Harry lives if only because my kids will be reading these books/watching these movies when they are a little older and I don't want them to think "Gee, Harry's life was never really happy, was it?" Of course, one popular theory is that Harry himself is a Horcrux so he must die in order to kill Lord V.

Will Lord V die? Dumbledore always said "there are things worse than death." He'll either die or he'll be left in some sort of horrible half life with no way to come back.

Who else could die? Is it likely that Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny will all come out alive? That would seem too good to be true.

Has anyone ever visited www.mugglenet.com? You could spend hours reading all of the different theories there. (Yes, I'm guilty of spending some time there, too.)

well very early review are in on DR performance in Equus and they say he was stunning! Kills me I can't see the play maybe it will come to Broadway and I can catch it in the US. So I guess the kid can really act...

Not to butt in but whatever happens Nevil Longbottom will be at the heart of it because he and Harry are tied together in the same prophecy. As you might remember Nevil's parents where killed because Lord V did not know whether it was Harry or Nevil who would be his down fall. And the third character involved is Prof. Snape who has a grudge against Lord V, as to what that grudge is I'm not sure yet but I think it involves one of Snapes parents.

I enjoy a lot of the "young adult" books. They are more plot-driven then a lot of novels for adults, which tend to dwell to much on what the characters are thinking, ad nauseum. Sometimes you just want a book to cut to the chase!

I just finished The Thief Lord, which came highly recommended, but wasn't that great. What I did enjoy was Nancy Farmer's "The House of the Scorpion". She is considered a young adult author, but I thought her book would be enjoyed by anyone. Since it is also written about an alternative future world where people are cloned, it might be enjoyed by people in the Fantasy-Sci Fi thread.

I also enjoy a lot of the novels that were written in the 19th century, like "The Secret Garden", "Bambi", or "The Jungle Book". All of these were thought to be for children, but all ages can enjoy them.

Ceceoh--My DH and I were reading Deathly Hallows at the same time and I was slightly ahead of him. I started crying when Dobby died (who knew it would hit me so hard :)) and my husband saw me and said "Oh no, it's bad news isn't it? Don't tell me, don't tell me."

OK! I read "A Secret Garden", which was a favorite of a friend, and I quite enjoyed it. And then, consequently, I read "Little Lord Fauntleroy", another quite charming book! I recommend them both, and of course, all good gardeners, should read the first one1

I just bought the first two books in the Golden Compass series and began reading the first today. My husband is reading Stardust. We also bought the Spiderwick Chronicles for our kids, but saw the movie this week and I'll probably be reading the books for myself.

I just finished The Princess Bride, which is also one of my favorite movies. For perhaps the first time ever, the movie surpassed the book by a huge margin. The book to me was actually pretty horrible. I read the abridged version by Goldman and he apparently feels it necessary to constantly interject his own thoughts in the middle of passages. I didn't think I was going to get through the book. I guess the original book was 1,000 pages so I can understand why it was abridged. I was just so disappointed. Morganstern (original author) also wrote a sequel to The Princess Bride and Goldman includes a portion of his "version" at the end of the book I have.